Metallic building structure



May 5, 1925. 1,536,717

H. KREKEL MBTALIIIIC BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed April 11, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l Fzzer/E-elal May 5, 1925.

2 Sheets-Shed z H. KREKEL MBTALLI C BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed April 11,1922 I 7. 5 IN gwwnkoz fielder-F lix!!! Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT KR-EKEL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE BARTLETT HAY-WARD COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

METALLIC BUILDING STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 11, 1922. Serial No. 551,589.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT KREKEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Metallic Building Structures, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention pertains to an improved metallic building structure, andthe method of assembling the same. \Vhile the invention is of generalapplication where a series of column-like members are interconnected bya series of struts, it is especially advantageous for use in connectionwith the building and erection of the guidev frames of gas holders, andparticularly so where the structure is large and the parts necessarilyheavy.

The main object is to provide means for facilitating the positioning andassembling of the parts, and more particularly the eye bars employed tobrace the structure, and likewise to provide means whereby said bars maybe placed under proper tension" in other Words, to equalize the tensionbetween the various bars throughout the structure and consequentlythrough the structure as a whole.

This invention is illustrated in connection with a guide frame of agasometer or holder and in the drawings Fig.1 is a side elevation of somuch of the framework as is necessary to an understanding of theinvention;

Fig. 2 a transverse horizontal section taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 a sectional plan View on the same section line, showing, upon asomewhat larger scale, two of the eye bars attaching and adjustingmeans;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6, vertical sectional views taken on the section linesIV-IV; V-V; and VIVI of Fig. 3, respectively;

Fig. 7 a transverse vertical sectional View on the line VII-VII of Fig.3; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10, perspective views, respectively, of the bearingflange, the supporting pin, and the eccentric take-up element.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the vertically disposed columns shown asbeing produced from I-beams, the inner flange of which bears against theweb of a second I-beam 2, said members being riveted or otherwisesecured together. Beams or shapes 2 form the guides against which thebearing rollers of the tank (not shown) bear. The columns thus formedare interconnected throughout the structure by horizontally disposedstruts, each strut being composed of two channel shaped channel elements3 and 4. The, outermost channel 3, at each end thereof, has a plate 5riveted thereto, the ends of the plates, see more particularly Fig. 3,being bent so as to take a fair bearing against the outer face of theouter flange of the member 1. The adjacent ends of such plates areoverlaid with a plate 6, and said plate and the ends of plates 5 areriveted to each other and to the flanges of the beam shaped column. Theinner strut elements 4 are of a length to fit between the Webs of theadjacent members 1, and gusset plates 7, riveted to the flanges of saidelements and to angle irons 8, which in turn are riveted to the webs,are employed to secure the inner strut elements in place. Spacerelements 9, Fig. 2, will also preferably be secured between the strutelements 3 and 4. I

Where a columnar structure, intercom nected at intervals by strut orgirth element, as they may be termed, is built up to any considerableheight, as is now done in the construction of large capacity gasometers,it becomes essential to stiffen the same against lateral deflection ortipping, or, in other words, to prevent what may be termed weaving ofthe parts. To this end I provide cross bracing, employing for thatpurpose eye bars which extend diagonally from one strut to another, theends of said bars being preferably anchored or secured to the strutsadjacent their connection to the columns. Such bars are of considerableweight and consequently are not easy of placement; moreover they shouldall be under substantially equal tension. To secure ready placement andsubstantially equal tension the following described means is employed.The eye bars are alike in form and construction, as is also the meansemployed to secure the ends thereof in palce,hence the various parts andelements are similarly lettered throughout.

Formed in the vertically disposed faces of each of the component members3 and 4 of the struts, adjacent each end thereof (and also in the member5) are oppositely disposed openings adapted to receive a pin 10, one endof which is preferably tapered to facilitate its placement. Said pinalso passes through a supporting and bearing member, see Fig. 8,comprising a plate-like element 11, having a shouldered collar 12extending outwardly therefrom. The platelike member or base is securelyriveted to the strut element 4 and the collar thereof is adapted toreceive and support one eye 13 of one of the eye-bars 14. The pin hasmounted on it, adjacent the strut element 3., an eccentric bearingmember 15 adapted to receive an eye of a second eye bar 16, said member15 likewise having formed integral therewith (see Fig. 10) an outwardlyextending notched flange 17, adapted to re ceive a spanner wrench bywhich the eccentriol collar may be turned. A set screw 18 (see Fig. 3)threaded through the strut member 3 and plate 5, takes into theeccentric and prevents the same from turning after it has been broughtto its desired adjusted position. A lock plate 19 one end of which takesinto a notch'20 in the pin 10, is bolted to the strut and preventsmovement of the pin after it is finally positioned.

In assembling, as the columns and struts are erected, the eye-bars 14and 16, say the lower pair in Fig. 1, are put in place, the eye at theupper end of each bar being slipped over the collars 12 and the pins 10temporarily positioned. After the next sections of the columns areerected and tied to.- gether by the horizontal strut, and it becomesnecessary to place the next pair of eye bars, one of the pins iswithdrawn and the eye at the lower end of the bar, say 14;, with theeccentric bearing sleeve placed therein, is passed between the strutelements in line with the pin receiving opening. The pin is. thenreinserted, passing through the eccentric and the fixed bearing collar12 upon which latter the eye of the. lower and previously positionedeye-bar rests. The pin is then secured in place by the locking plate 19.Similarly, the. eye-rod 16? is p.0- sitioned, both of said rods 14 and16*- being secured in place. at their upper ends by pins passingtherethrough and through the struts.

In. Fig. 1 the uppermost strut of the structure is shown, and at thispoint the supporting collar may be omitted, if desired; throughout thelower portion of the structure, however, the collars and eccentrics areresent. After the eyearods are positioned they may be readily placedunder tens on by simply turning the eccentrics and locking the same byturning in the set screw 18. U- bolts 21 and plates 22, cooperatingtherewith, may be placed at the point of crossing of the eye-bars to tiethe same together.

\Vhat is claimed is,-

1. In a metallic building structure, the

combination of a pair of vertical columns; cross struts connecting thesame at intervals, said struts being produced from two spaced elements;a pair of eye-bars extending diagonally across the space formed by twoadjacent struts; and means for securing said eyebars in position,comprising a pin passing through alined openings formed in the spacedstrut elements adjacent the ends thereof, a fixed collar secured to theinner face of one of said strut elements in line with the opening in theelement to which it is secured, and adapted to receive and sustain theeye of one of the eye-bars, an eccentric mounted upon the pin andadapted to be rotated thereabout, said eccentric receiving the eye ofthe opposite eye-bar, and means for securing said eccentric in itsadjusted position. i 2. In a metallic building structure, thecombination of a pair of columns; a pair of struts connecting saidcolumns, each of said struts comprising a pair oi horizontally spacedelements a pair of eye-bars extend: ing diagonally and in crossedrelation be. tween the opposite corners of the struts; means forsecuring the lower eyes of said barsto the lowermost strut; and abearing block for the. upper eye of each of the bars, said blocksbeingsecured upon the inner face of one of the elements of the upperstrut and serving as a support for the eye, and a pin extending througheach of said blocks and the strut elements.

3. In a metallic building structure, the combination of a plurality ofcolumns; a plurality of struts arranged in spaced relation andconnecting said columns; a pair of eye-bars arranged in diagonalrelation be. tween each pair of struts; means attached to the strutsadjacent the columns ,forsup.- porting the upper ends of the eye-bars;-and means associated with the means aforesaid for holding the lowerends. of the eye-bars next above and placing the same under tension.

4. In combination with a pair of columns; a strut member connecting thesame, said strut being composed of two hori ontal y spaced elements; anda bearing for an 83!? bar adapted to be connected to. said strut, saidbearing comprising a plate having a collar extending outwardlytherefrom, he plate beingsecu e to the nne ace of: o e of; t e strutelem nts. an t e c l -av being of uch as to pass thro gh. t eye of thebar, and a pin extending through the strut e e t a th col a a d pla e nmb n tion w th a pair of columns;

a strut member connecting the same, said strut being composed of tWohorizontally spaced elements; and bearings for eye bars comprising aplate having a collar extending therefrom, the plate being secured tothe inner face of one of the strut elements, the collar being of suchsize as to pass through the eye of the bar, a pin extending through thestrut elements and the collar and plate, and an eccentric mounted on thepin and 10 rotatable thereabout for receiving the eye of a secondeye-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HUBERT KREKEL.

